Talking union
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11:45 am, September 21st, 2009 - Comments Off on Talking union
Categories: music, Unions, youtube -
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Eddie’s piece on the importance of joining your union if you want to avoid a pay cut reminded me of another Peter Seeger classic:
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The Government is amending the Equal Pay Act [the Act] to make the process of raising and resolving pay equity claims more robust, workable and sustainable, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden announced today. Pay equity is achieved when women and men are paid the same for work ...2 weeks ago
- Proposals to strengthen biodiversity released
Toitū te taiao – Our environment endures The Government is consulting on proposals to better protect our precious biodiversity and its economic benefits for future generations, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. “Today, the Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai is releasing two discussion documents for public consultation, and I ...2 weeks ago
- Trade negotiations with India commence
Following significant engagement over the last month, the first in-person round of negotiations towards a comprehensive India New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will take place in India this week. This follows the highly successful visit to India last year by Deputy Prime Minister, Winston Peters and the formal launch ...2 weeks ago
- NZ-EU trade deal delivers export growth
The early entry into force of the New Zealand–European Union Trade Agreement (FTA) is paying off, with Kiwi goods exports to the EU surging by 28 per cent during the first year. “In the last 12 months our goods exports to the EU surged from $3.8 billion to over $4.8 ...2 weeks ago
- Celebrating New Zealand Sign Language
Now is the time for Kiwis to give New Zealand Sign Language a go as we take a week to celebrate the language, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) week. The theme is that “anyone can sign anywhere”. “NZSL is an official ...3 weeks ago
- Boosting high-tech exports with advanced technology
New investment in advanced technology research will boost high-tech exports, strengthen connections between research and industry and generate high value jobs, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today. “Advanced technology research leads to life-changing innovation,” says Dr Reti. “The breakthroughs that can be achieved through areas like ...3 weeks ago
- Post-Cabinet Press Conference: Monday 5 May 2025
POST-CABINET PRESS CONFERENCE: Monday, 5 May 2025 EPIQ TRANSCRIPT PM: Well, look, good afternoon, everyone. It’s great to be joined this afternoon by our awesome Trade Minister, Todd McClay, who’s doing some incredible work. As you know, it’s a big sitting block with the Budget at the end of ...3 weeks ago
- Parent Portal launched to empower parents
Every parent wants to see their child thrive at school — to feel confident, supported, and capable. Today, the Government is taking a major step toward making that aspiration a reality with the launch of a new Parent Portal: an online resource designed to enable families to play their part ...3 weeks ago
- New helicopters a commitment to global security
The Defence Force’s ageing maritime helicopters will be replaced to increase the defensive and offensive capability and surveillance range of New Zealand’s frigates, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. “The replacement of the Seasprite helicopters will also extend the Navy’s ability to support non-combat tasks such as humanitarian assistance and ...3 weeks ago
- Prime Minister congratulates Albanese and Wong
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has congratulated Anthony Albanese on winning the Australian Federal Election, and Lawrence Wong on winning the Singaporean election. “I have been in touch with both Mr Albanese and Mr Wong to offer my congratulations on retaining office,” Mr Luxon says. “When we spoke, Mr Albanese and ...3 weeks ago
- Hunting and Fishing Minister joins game bird season opening hunt
Hunting and Fishing Minister James Meager has joined the thousands of New Zealanders taking part in the annual game bird hunting season opening. He spent the morning at Te Nohoaka o Tukiauau / Sinclair Wetlands, a 315-hectare portion of the Lakes Waihola-Waipori wetland south of Dunedin, hosted by Fish & ...3 weeks ago
- Attendance dashboard shows early insights into term 2
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that new up-to-date attendance data is helping provide fresh insights into student attendance. For example, data for the first week of term 2 shows the effect of wild weather and which regions were standouts. The average attendance across week 1 is 87.1 per cent. ...3 weeks ago
- Punitive criminal libel charge against Samoan journalist draws flurry of criticism
Pacific Media Watch A punitive defamation charge filed against one of Samoa’s most experienced and trusted journalists last week has sparked a flurry of criticism over abuse of power and misuse of a law that has long been heavily criticised as outdated. Talamua Online senior journalist Lagi Keresoma, who is ...2 hours ago - Labour claims Budget is being paid for by the country’s women
But Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the Budget is for all men and women in New Zealand. ...3 hours ago - Grattan on Friday: if Ley and Littleproud find a way to cohabit, it will be a tense household
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Remember that cliche about the Nationals tail wagging the Liberal dog? That tail wagged very vigorously this week, and smashed a lot of crockery, as it sought to bring Liberal leader Sussan Ley to heel. ...3 hours ago
- New Plymouth businesses largely support ‘investment boost’ package
The boost allows the deduction of 20 percent of the cost of new assets on top of normal depreciation. ...3 hours ago
- Legal academic says Samoa’s criminal libel law should go after charge
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist An Auckland University law academic says Samoa’s criminal libel law under which a prominent journalist has been charged should be repealed. Lagi Keresoma, the first female president of the Journalists Association of Samoa (JAWS) and editor of Talamua Online, was charged under the ...4 hours ago
- Government yet to confirm Nelson Hospital redevelopment Budget
Two buildings will be refurbished while a whole new building will be built. ...5 hours ago
- The deluge in NSW sounds a warning to rural and regional communities elsewhere
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Piet Filet, Adjunct Industry Fellow, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University Heavy rain continues to fall across the Hunter and Mid North Coast of New South Wales. Rivers are bursting their banks and spreading over floodplains, leaving many areas on flood watch. And ...5 hours ago
- ‘Major trade-offs’ allow for learning support boost
Erica Stanford has delivered a $2.5 billion education Budget, with $646 million for learning support offset by $614m in cuts to “underperforming” programmes.Experts and educators say the investment in a sector crying out for help is welcomed, but question whether it’s truly transformational – and at what cost.Stanford is describing ...5 hours ago - PNG journalists warned over lawfare – ‘we don’t have any law to stop SLAPPs’, says Choi
By Patrick Muuh in Port Moresby Journalists in Papua New Guinea are likely to face legal threats as powerful individuals and companies use court actions to silence public interest reporting, warns Media Council of PNG president Neville Choi. As co-chair of the second Community Coalition Against Corruption (CCAC) National Meeting, ...6 hours ago
- Tougher benefit rules for young people trigger mixed responses
The policy is forecast to save the government about $163 million over four years. ...6 hours ago
- Floods, fires and even terrorist attacks: how ready are our hospitals to cope when disaster strikes?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mitchell Sarkies, Senior Lecturer, Horizon Fellow and NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow at the Sydney School of Health Sciences, University of Sydney Floodwaters have engulfed large parts of New South Wales, with at least one person dead and almost 50,000 evacuated after days ...6 hours ago
- Children And Families In Poverty Let Down By Today’s Budget
“Looking at Budget 2025, I don’t see the investment that’s needed to significantly reduce, and ultimately pave the way to ending child poverty," says Chief Children’s Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad. ...7 hours ago - Budget backsliding on climate change ‘defies belief’, say advocates
The government has allocated $200m to investing in fossil fuel development at gasfields. ...7 hours ago
- Budget Day 2025 – as it happened
The government's cuts, savings and new spending have been revealed in this year's Budget. ...7 hours ago
- Labour claims budget is being paid for by the countries women
But Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the Budget is for all men and women in New Zealand. ...7 hours ago
- Could cold sores increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease? A new study is no cause for panic
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joyce Siette, Associate Professor | Deputy Director, The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour, and Development, Western Sydney University And-One/Shutterstock A new study has found the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), which causes cold sores, may be linked to the development ...8 hours ago
- As the Million Paws Walk takes its last lap, other charity fundraising events face serious challenge...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Wade, Lecturer in Social Inquiry, La Trobe University The RSPCA has announced this Sunday’s Million Paws Walk will be their last. The event has been celebrated across Australia since 1994, with more than 765,000 people and their 410,000 dogs having “laced ...8 hours ago
- Alarm bells sound on tertiary education budget
Demand for tertiary education and training is set to blow out current baselines.The forecasted volume of students able to be funded under baselines extending to the 2026-27 financial year is greater than the amount of funding allocated to the sector.Tertiary education was the only ‘changed risk’ listed in the financial ...8 hours ago
- Not The Growth We Need: Budget 2025 Delivers Growing Energy Bills And Energy Insecurity
Investing in a sustainable energy system and energy efficiency would have been a huge win – not only because it supports New Zealand households and business to keep electricity bills down, but it’s the cheapest way of improving supply. ...8 hours ago
- “Unreliably” Managed Defence Spending Gets A 25% Funding Boost As Essential Public Services And ...
The Budget includes over $1 billion of new capital investment for Defence, plus an additional $1.6 billion from Budget 2026. The government plans to increase total defence spending by more than $12 billion over the next 4 years. ...8 hours ago
- Statement On 2025 Budget By Lawyers For Climate Action
The budget does not make the investments required to meet our 2030 Paris Agreement target. The government has accepted that there is an 84 million tonne CO2-e gap between what our domestic emissions reductions will achieve and what our 2030 target requires. ...8 hours ago
- Budget 2025: Coalition claws back savings from pay equity, KiwiSaver, Best Start
There are big cuts and savings, changes to Best Start and a surprise tax cut for businesses as the government opens the books. ...8 hours ago
- Gone By Lunchtime x When The Facts Change: A Budget special
Bernard Hickey crunches the numbers in a special Gone By Lunchtime meets When the Facts Change crossover episode. In the year of growth, Nicola Willis has presented a growth budget. But does the Investment Boost initiative, which speeds up depreciation for businesses, promise the kind of growth that the economy needs? ...8 hours ago - Keith Rankin on the War in Sudan
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand. On 11 April 2025, AP noted that the two-year-old Civil War in Sudan is regarded by the United Nations as “the world’s worst humanitarian crisis”, ...8 hours ago
- Too many people with back pain call ambulances or visit the ED. Here’s why that’s a problem
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Vella, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney Rose Marinelli/Shutterstock Around 4 million Australians experience back problems and people are increasingly calling ambulances and presenting to emergency departments to manage back pain. Yet most of these ...8 hours ago
- In a flood, first responders balance helping others while their own families are at risk. It’s an ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin Smith, Associate Professor and Discipline Lead (Paramedicine), La Trobe University As unprecedented flooding inundates towns and leaves residents stranded in parts of New South Wales, local first responders have rescued hundreds of people from floodwaters and rooftops. Volunteering Australia estimates more ...8 hours ago
- Budget ‘25 Cuts To Foreign Aid And Climate Finance A Short-Sighted Move
The Finance Minister Hon. Nicola Willis’ Budget ’25 has cut foreign aid and climate finance by more than 11% to less than one quarter of one percent (just 0.24%) of Gross National Income. The biggest cut is to the government’s commitment to climate ...8 hours ago
- Keith Rankin Analysis – Zero-Sum Fiscal Narratives
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand. The central narrative of New Zealand’s Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is ‘There is only so much money to go around’. (For example, her interview ...8 hours ago
- Budget 2025: Militaristic Fantasies Fuel Spending Surge
Combat capability cannot stop the rising tides, or protect us from catastrophic climate change: military activity is the ultimate in damaging unsustainability, with military emissions estimated to be at least 5.5% of the global total. ...8 hours ago
- Australia is forecast to fall 262,000 homes short of its housing target. We need bold action
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ehsan Noroozinejad, Senior Researcher and Sustainable Future Lead, Urban Transformations Research Centre, Western Sydney University Australia’s plan to build 1.2 million new homes by 2029 is in trouble. A new report by the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council (NHSAC) shows we ...9 hours ago
- Budget 2025: Invest In Our Children And Whānau – The Foundation Of Our Future
The challenge for the government is to match its investment rhetoric by being brave to invest comprehensively in the services that our sector has consistently shown improves lives. Community must have a revitalised role with services devolved to ...9 hours ago
- Climate Org Labels Budget 2025 “A Backwards, Scorched-Earth Agenda”
This government is choosing to throw away $200m into a gas subsidy, which we know will become a stranded asset. They’re choosing to defund the independent climate commission. But what’s most alarming about this Budget is what it leaves out” ...9 hours ago
- NSW on alert: these maps show the areas at risk of flooding and storms
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Digital Storytelling Team, The Conversation False colour satellite timelapse (infrared + Zehr) BoM Himawari-9 satellite, CC BY-SA At least one person is confirmed dead, three people are missing and tens of thousands are isolated after record-breaking floods continue to wreak havoc on ...9 hours ago
- Budget 2025 A Betrayal Of Working People
The Government has slashed nearly $13 billion that would have gone to pay equity claims, gutting the mechanism that ensures fair pay for women in undervalued, female-dominated sectors like care and support. These cuts will pay for their Budget which includes ...9 hours ago
- A guide to the 2025 Growth Budget for people that hate budgets
Everything you need to know about Budget 2025, and not a number more. This morning, journalists were ushered into the Beehive’s banquet hall, and connected to a closed Wifi network that only allowed access to one website. On that website were the budget documents, which were then handed out as ...9 hours ago
- Opposition slams Budget ‘austerity, cuts’, Luxon attacks Greens alternative
The Prime Minister said the 2025 Budget got the basics right and put the country back on the path to surplus. ...9 hours ago
- Govt halves contribution to workers’ KiwiSavers; employers get tax cuts
Analysis: Workers will have to take responsibility for a bigger share of their own retirement savings, with the Government cutting most of its contributions, as well as opening the door for employers to negotiate a lower share.Over the next four years, Finance Minister Nicola Willis has cut a handy $2.5 ...9 hours ago
- NZ Budget 2025 at a glance: follow the money here
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael P. Cameron, Professor of Economics, University of Waikato Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers her budget address in parliament. Getty Images Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivered a pragmatic budget today, balancing fiscal discipline and the promise of economic growth. Willis pitched ...10 hours ago
- Whanganui Politician Crosses Boundaries To Stop Seabed Mine
Whanganui District Councillor Charlotte Melser presented her 3000-signature Concerned Communities petition to New Plymouth District Council on Tuesday, saying many locals had signed. ...10 hours ago
- Budget 2025: More money for journalists, less for RNZ
The government is putting more money into hiring local journalists, but cutting Radio New Zealand's budget. ...10 hours ago
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